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METHOD OF SHAPING SHEET METAL l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Dec. 28, 1927 'NSN i .By @kuub Nm, NNN

Patented 4Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED MICHIGAN.

STA

TES PATENT OFFICE.

PARK, AND LAWRENCE S. LAMB, 0F DETROIT, MOTOR GAR COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF METHOD OF SHAIING SHEET METAL.

Application filed December 28, 1927. Serial N'o. 243,030.

YT his invention relates to a ing sheet metal and more production of a quarter w lt is an object of the inventio an improved method method of shapparticularly to the indow finish molding for an automobile body.

n to provide whereby articles of this type may be produced rapidly and efciently upon a modern production basis.'

Before explaining in vention, embodied therein,

,to the details ment of parts ing drawings,

it is to b the invention is not limited in its ap of construction and arrangeillustrated in the accompanysince the invention is capable detail the present inand the method or mode of operation e understood that plication of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phrase ology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose o f description and not of limitation, and it is not vintended to limit` the invention beyond the terms of the several claims hereto appended or therequirements of the prior art.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following junction with the accompanying in which,

description, in condrawings Fig.'1 is a plan view of the lower half of' an apparatus for performing one of theoperations 'Fig 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the same; f

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sectiona upon the tively the relation of the par l views taken line 3-3 of Fig. 1 lshowing respects at the beginning of the operation, at the time the work is completed, and as ejected; Fig. after it has been cut,

Fig.

by the the-work is about to be 6 is a-plan view of a suitable'blank 7 isa plan view of the blank as shaped first folding operation;

Fig. 8 is aplan view of the lower half of an apparatus for performing the second folding operation;

Fig. 9

Figs. 10 and 11 are sec upon the line 10-10 of Fig. 8, sho

is a side elevational view of the same;

tional views taken wing the relation of the parts at the beginning and completion of operation respe Figs. 12 and 13 are sectional v1 8 Fig. 14 is a plan view of ,the

upon line 12-12 of Fig.

during the second folding Fig. 1 5 is a plan view o ctively operation the lower ews taken blank as shaped half of and 18 are secured in any v as by screws 19, upon the to surface of the an apparatus for performing the third foldmg operation;

Fig. 16 is a side elevational view of the same, f

Figs. 17, 18, 19 and 2O are -sectional views taken upon line 17-17 of Fig. 16, showing the relation of the various 'parts at dierent stages from the beginning to the completion ofthe operation.

Figs. 21 and site sides of the body of the blank respectively., after the completion of this operation;

Fig. 23 is a plan view of an apparatus for performing the fourth folding operation; Fig. 24 is a detail tion of the same; l

Figs. 25 and 26 are fragmentar; elevational views of portions of the apparatus showing the permanently and detachably mounted devices respectively for shaping the blank 22 are plan views of the oppoview of a' detachable poraround the supports for defining the vertices of the polygon; Fig. 27 is a plan View of the blank as shaped by this operation; y

Fig. 28 is a front elevational view of an 'apparatus for performing the welding operation;

Fig. 29

same;

Fig. 30 is a sectional view taken upon line 30-30 of Fig. 28, showing the frame in a horizontal position.

Fig. 31 is a sectional View taken upon line 31-31 of Fig. 28, showing the frame in vertical position.

In practice of the invention a blank of sheet material is cut to suitable size and shape so that it may be subsequently folded to form the desired article. In the production of an article, such as a quarter window finish molding for an automobile, the sheet material is cut to provide a-body 10 from which extends a plurality of spaced projections 11 (as shown in Fig. 6). The projections 11 are then turned inwardly, preferably at their line of connection with the body of the blank, to provide anges 11a and 11". A suitable apparatus for performin this operation comprises a base 12 (see igs. 1-5) having al central opening 13 Ito receive for sliding engagement therewith a block 14 provided with shoulders 15. Suitable wearing blocks 17 suitable manner,

is an end elevational view of the base so as to extend slightly into the opening ico 13. The block 14 normally is held upwardly of the ram directly above the member 38 to rewith the shoulders 15 engaging the bottom ceive for movement therein a mandrel 56. linner ed e of the blocks 17 and 18 by springs The mandrel 56 is held .upon the ram 50 by 20, 'the lcock 14 being shaped so that when bolts 57 `threaded to the mandrel and passing it is thus ositioned its vtap surface will be through openings 58 provided with shoul- 70 substantiv ly flush with the top surfaces of ders 59 to engage the head of the bolt and the blocks 17 and 18. Positionlng blocks 22 serve as a stop therefor. The mandrel norare secured in any suitable manner, as by mally is held 1n extended position by springs screws 23; to the top surface of the base and 60 within recesses 6l and extending to enserve to position accurately the blank to bring gage the top surface of the mandrel. Bear- 75 Y the body 10 above the opening 13 in the base. lng blocks 62 are secured to the lower surface ram 26 is'provided to move toward and of the ram upon opposite sides of the mandrel away from the base, and with this in view is 56 in any suitable manner, as by screws 63. provided with openings 2 7 for collars 28 Dies 65 are movably mounted upon the adapted to receive for sliding engagement plate 40 on opposite sides of the member 38 80 therewith guides 29 lixed'in the base. An and are rovided on their inner surface with upper die 30 is suitably secured upon the wearing locks 66secured thereto in any suitram 26, as by screws 31, and is positioned able manner, as by screws 67. A wearing thereon to move downwardly to carry the block 70 is secured, as by screws 71, to the body 10 of-the blank into the opening 13 of outer lower edge of'each die and each is 85 the base and fold the projections 11 inwardly adapted for engagement with a wearing block by engagement thereof with the blocks 17 or cam 72 upon the inner surface of one of and 18. Stripping bars 34 are secured upon the projections 36.

the base and are positioned to engage the Suitable means are provided for holding blank and remove the same from the upper the dies away from the mandrel 56 and mem- 90 die 30 as the ram 4is raised. ber 38.- For this purpose brackets 75 are In performing this operation, the blank is secured to the plate 40 in any suitable manplaeed upon the blocks 17 and 18 and against ner, as by screws 76, and are provided near the blocks 22 so as to bring the body-10 their upper .free ends with openings 77 to above the opening 13 and with the projecpermit the free passage of bolts 78 secured 9 5 tions 11 extending over the blocks 17 and 18. v at one end to the dies 65. A spring 79 'sur- The ram 26 is then lowered to engage the body rounds each bolt 7 8 and extends between the of the blank and hold 'the same against the brackets 75 and washersl 80 positioned and block 14. On further downward movementv held near the free ends of th'e bolts by nuts 81.

of the ram the projections 11 of the blank In performing this operation the blank is 10D are drawn into the opening 13 and folded beplaced in the apparatus with the body of the vtween the blocks 17 and 18 and the upper die blank resting upon the support 38 and with 30 to form iianges 11*l and 11b (as shown in the flanges 11a and 11b extending upwardly. Fig. 7). j I he ram 50 is then lowered to bring the man- One or more of the flanges 11';1 or 11b are then drel56 between the flanges and into engage- 105 offset. A suitable apparatus for this purpose ment with thebody of the blank to hold the may comprise a base 35 (see Figs. 8-13) hav- Same against the member 38. Upon further ing spaced projections 36 extending upwardly Y downward movement of the ram 50, the beartherefrom. A suitable member 38 is posi- -ing plates 62 engage the top surface of the tioned betweerrthe projections 36 and secured dies 65 to move .the same downwardly to- 110 upon the top surface of the base in any suitgether with the plate 40. In the course of the*-` able manner, as by screws 395 and serves to downward movement of the dies, the wearsupport the body of the blank. A plate 40 is in g blocks 70 are brought into engagement provided with an opening 4l to provide clearwith the cams 72 whereby the dies are movedP ance for the member 38 and is movably seinwardly in a direction perpendicular to the 115 cured to the base by bolts 42 having threaded direction in .which they are moved solely by engagement with the plate and passing the ram, thereby impartinga resultant movethrough openings 43 in the base. The openment to the dies inclined to the member 38 ings 43 are provided with shoulders 44 adaptand mandrel 56 to cause the blocks 66 to ened to engage the head of the bolts and serve gage the flanges to fold them along the lines 120 'as a stop therefor. The plate 40 normally is of previous fold the portions 11 and 11d of held inv an extended posltion by springs 45 flanges. 11b and 11 respectively against lthe supportedlin recesses 46 in the base and en- `mandrel 56 and the portions 11 and 11l of the gaving the lower surface ofthe plate. flanges 11b and 11a respectively against the ram 50 is arranged for movement tobody of the-blank upon the member 38. 125 ward and from the base, and with this in When the blank has been shaped in this l view is provided with openings 51 for colmanner, the ram 50 is raised to removethe l lars 52 adapted to receive for sliding engagemandrel 56 from the blank and the plates 62l ment therewith guides fixed' in the base. from the dies 65. At the same time the i l A recess 55 1s provided 1n the lower surface springs 45 raise the plate 4 0 together with 130 the dies 65, and the springs 79 act upon the j dies to move them outwardly along the cams may comprise a base 85 (Figs. 15-20) having a block 86 secured in any suitable manner, as -by screws 87, to the top surface of the base near one side thereof for supporting the body of the blank with a flange overhanging and engaging the side of the block. A plurality of projections 88 extend upwardly at one side of the base and have wearing blocks 89 secured to their inner upper edges in any suitable manner, as by bolts 90. A lower die member 92 is mounted for movement along the top surface of the base between the projections 88 and the block 86. A hardened die block 93 having a cam surface 97 is secured upon the inner Aupper edge 'of the die 92, as by screws 94, and a hardened wearing block 95 is secured to the upper outer edge of the die, as by screws 96.

The die 92 normally is held away from the block 86 in any suitable manner. As illustrated, a bracket 98 is secured to the base, as by bolts 99, and is provided near its upper end with an opening 100 adapted to permit the free passage of a bolt 101 secured to the die 92. A spring 103 surrounds the bolt 101 and extends between the outer surface of the bracket 98 and a washer 104 positioned and held near the outer end of the bolt, as by nuts 105.

A ram 106 is adapted for movement towards and from the base and for this purpose is provided with openings 107 for collars 108 adapted to receive for sliding engagement therewith suitable guides 109 fixed in the base. A hardened upper die block 110 is secured to the lower surface of the ram 106,

as by screws 111, and is positioned to engageand shape a portion of the body of the blank around the lower die block 93.

A recess 114 is provided in the lower surface of the ram to receive for movement therein a work gripping member 115 which is secured to the ram by bolts 116 secured to the member 115 and passing through openings 117 in the ram provided with shoulders 118 adapted to engage the head of the bolt and serve asa stop. The member 115 normally is held in extended position by springs 120 positioned in recesses 121 in the ram and engaging the top surface of the member 115.

A cam 125 is secured near one edge of the ram 106 as by bolts 126 and depends therefrom so as to enter the space between the blocks-89 and 95 upon the projections 88 and lower die 92 respectively.

To turn the projecting portion`11e of the body of the blank inward the blank is supported in inverted position upon the block 86 with the flanges 11b overhanging and engaging the side of the block. The ram 106 is then lowered to bring the work gripping member 115 into engagement with the body of the blank and hold the same yieldingly against the member 86. At the same time the .cam 125 engages the cam surface 97 upon the lower die and moves the latter into engagement with the flanges 11a of the blank and holds the same against the side of-the block 86 thereby positioning the lower die block 93 beneath the portion 11e of lthe body of the blank. Upon further downward movement of the ram, the upper die block 110 is brought into engagement with the portion 11e of the body of the blank and shapes the same against the lower die block 93 to turn the portion 11k inwardly.

' The thus shaped strip of sheet metal is then folded to the polygonal shape of the window opening so as to bringthe free ends of the strip together. A suitable apparatus for this purpose may comprise a table 135 (Figs. 23- 27) having pins 136 mounted therein upon which suitable supports 137, such as rolls, are pivotally mounted, and which are positioned to define two adjacent vertices of the polygon. In the form illustrated the rolls 137 are mounted upon the pins 136 between a lever 138, pivotally mounted upon the pins 136 adjacent the top surface of the table, and brackets 139 ezte'nding from near the top of the pins 136 to the table and secured to the latter in any suitable manner, as by bolts 140. A roll 141 is pivotally mounted upon a stud 142 on each lever 138 and is positioned to engage the body of the strip of sheet metal and shape the same against the 'correspondin g support or roll 137.

The supports defining the other vertices of the polygon may conveniently be in the form of rolls 145 pivotally mounted upon pins 146 mounted in plates 147 which are secured to the top surface of the table in any suitable manner, as by bolts 148. A detachable manually operated device, such as a lever 149, is provided with a nctch 149a for detachably and pivotally connecting the lever to the pins 146. The levers 149 are provided with studs 150 carrying rolls 151 positioned to engage the body of the strip of sheet metal yand shape the same about the rolls 146. ln order that the strip of sheet metal may be elevated to a suitable position relative to the rolls 137 and 115, the table is provided with suitable upwardlr extending projections 152- which engage and support the strip of sheet metal between the supports or rolls defining the vertices of the polygon.

ln shaping the strip of sheet metal the outer surface of the hody of the sheet metal adjacent the central flanges is positioned to eX- tend between and against the rolls 137 and with rolls 141 against the inner surface of the 3 i l'll body of the sheet metal.

141 against theI body of the strip of sheet metal and shape the same around the rolls 137. The strip of sheet metal is then bent at right angles around each of the rolls 145 to bring the free ends together. The levers 149 are then mounted upon the pins 146 so as to bring the rolls 151 into engagement with the body of the strip of sheet metal which then is shaped around the rolls 145 by turning the levers 147 in the direction of the arrows (Fig. 23).

The free ends of the strip of sheet metal are then welded together. A convenient apparatus for use in this connection may comprise a table 155 (Figs. 28-31) having a plate 156 secured tothe top surface thereof in any suitable manner as by screws 157. A frame comprisy -ing a T-shaped base 158 having a-slot 158EL is provided with cylindrical projections 159 mounted in bearings 160. The bearings 160 are secured to the table 155 by lbolts 161 passing. freely through openings 162 inthe table and extending beyond the lower surface of the table. The extension of each of the bolts 161 is' surrounded by a spring 163 extending between a washer 16'4 abuttingthe bottom surface of the table and a washer 165 held and secured near the outer ends of the bolts, by nuts 166. The l T-shaped frame l is provided with upright members 168'securedto the frame adjacent the projections 159. Blocks 169 are secured to the table, as by screws 170.

' The strip of' sheet metalfovlded to the .shape of a polygon with the free ends together is placed in the frame with opposite sides engaging the upright members 168 and with the porvt1ons adjacent the free ends of the strip of sheet metal engaging the T-shaped frame member 158 directly above the slot V1588*.

With the frame in a vertical position the free ends of the body of the strip of sheet metal are welded together and the frame is turned to bring the frame members168 to a horizontal position. The free ends of one set of flanges are then welded together and the frame turned to bring the members 168 in a horizontal position on the opposite side of the original vertical position and the free ends of the other set of flanges are welded together. The springs 163 permit yielding of the bearings 160 to provide clearance for the bottom of frame rigidly in the position to which it has been turned.

What we claim is:

1. The method of shaping sheet metal which comprises cutting a blank to provide a body and a plurality of spaced projections ex'- tending therefrom, folding the projections at their line of connection with the body to provide inwardly extending flanges, offsetting one of said flanges, and..turning a portion of the body inward, bending the blank between the flanges to bring the ends of the blank together, and welding thev ends to form a continuous article. v.

2. The method of shaping sheet metal which comprises cutting a blank to provide a body and a plurality of spaced projections extending therefrom, folding the projections at their line of connection with the body to provide inwardly extending flanges, offsetting one of said flanges, turning an adjacent portion of the body inward, bending the blank between the flanges to bring the ends of the blank together, and welding the ends to form a continuous article.

3. The vmethod of shaping sheet metal which comprises cutting a blank to provide a body and a plurality of spaced projections extending from each side thereof,

the body to provide inwardly and one of theflanges on the other side ofthe body, turning inward a portion 4of the body onlone side thereof,.bending the blank between the flanges to bring' the ends of the blank together, and welding the ends to form a the 'T-shapedframe 158 when being turned and yet hold the I folding the' v projections at their line of connection with y extending flanges, offsetting allthe flanges on one sidel 

